Abstract
Increasing demand for metals caused by global economic growth and exploitation of shallow mineral deposits forces mineral extraction to go deeper. A direct consequence of this development is an increase in rock pressure-related mining problems. The role of rock engineering in the design and operation of deep mines is discussed in detail. Critical issues are the rock fracturing around mining excavations, the support and control of the fractured rock, and the rock mechanics design of mine infrastructure and extraction (stoping) systems. Progress of the science of rock mechanics in the areas related to these issues is highlighted and critically examined. Specific areas are the prediction and assessment of the mechanical properties of rock mass, the mechanics of controlling fractured rock around deep mining excavations and the resulting demands on support systems. Rock engineering aspects of stoping systems and the regional stress changes resulting from the extraction of large mineral bodies are discussed in detail. The progress in design concepts for open stopes and stopes with caving of the roof strata is illustrated. It is shown that the stress environment in deep mines does not favour the highly productive caving systems of stoping. The value of energy-based design concepts for very deep mines exploiting tabular mineral deposits is shown. Despite the considerable progress that has been made in the science of rock mechanics since the 1950s, progress in applying this knowledge to solve rock pressure problems in deep mines has been rather slow. The tools are available. What is needed is the development of robust design criteria for mine infrastructure, excavations and support systems for dynamic and changing stress environments. The second critical issue is the lack of highly qualified rock engineering personnel on the mines. This has been recognized by the European mining industry through supporting a continued education programme in rock engineering for deep mines.
Highlights
The editors of the Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering journal are to be congratulated for organizing a special issue on rock mechanics and rock engineering in mining
A detailed discussion of the various methods goes beyond the scope of this rock mechanics review and the reader is referred to comprehensive summaries of the state of numerical modelling in rock engineering (Pande et al 1990; Ryder and Jager 2002, Brady and Brown 2004; Jing and Hudson 2002)
The first is a lack of practical rock engineering hand books for mine operators and rock mechanics personnel working on mines
Summary
Β, γ, δ, θ,φ Angle (plane angle) (D) l Length (L) b Width (L) h Height (L) d Thickness (L) r Radius (L) φ, d Diameter (L). Mechanics: Kinematics v, c velocity (LT−1) a Acceleration (LT−2) g Gravitational acceleration (LT−2). Statics and dynamics m Mass (M) ρ Density (ML−3) F Force (P) W Weight, dead weight (F) γ Unit weight (FL−3) W Work, energy (FL). Applied mechanics p Pressure (FL−2) σ Normal stress (FL−2) σx, σy, σz Stress components in rectangular coordinates (FL–2) σr, σθ,σz Stress components in cylindrical coordinates (FL−2) σ1, σ2, σ3 Principal stresses (FL−2) p Hydrostatic stress, pressure (FL−2) pz Primary vertical stress (FL−2) px, py Primary horizontal stresses (FL−2) k Ratio of primary horizontal to vertical stresses (D) ks Stiffness (FL−1). Rock and rock mass properties ν Poisson’s ratio (D) E Young’s modulus, modulus of elasticity E.
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